Cadillac locks front-row start at Le Mans

Jun 13

For the first time since 1967, an American automaker has earned the pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And for the first time, Cadillac will lead the field to the green flag in the iconic endurance race.

Three Cadillacs qualified for Hyperpole2

All four Cadillac Hypercars qualified for Hyperpole1. The #311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, with Jack Aitken behind the wheel, topped the lap time chart in the 20-minute session of 15 cars with a blistering lap of 3:22.742 – the lone sub-3:23 lap in either session. By sanctioning body rules, he gave way to Felipe Drugovich for the next round and the Action Express Racing driver qualified eighth with a lap of 3:24.380. Both Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R qualified second with Sebastien Bourdais in the #38 and Will Stevens, in the #12 qualified eighth.

The #101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R used Hyperpole1 to run in race trim, testing ride height and other areas, after the crew and Cadillac engineers efficiently changed the 5.5-liter DOHC V8 engine out of precaution during the afternoon free practice.

Hertz Cadillac Team JOTA front-row lockout

Alex Lynn, driving the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, recorded a lap of 3:23.166 seconds in the 15-minute Hyperpole2 session to claim Cadillac’s second pole position in three FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) seasons.

Alex Lynn: “Pole position here at Le Mans and an incredible front row lockout for the team,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than that. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA for giving me the car to do that. It’s been a lifelong goal of mine to be on the pole at Le Mans, it’s such an honor.”

The celebration in the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA garages grew exponentially seconds later when the Earl Bamber, driving the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, slotted in second on the time chart with a lap of 3:23.333 on the 13.626-kilometer (8.467-mile) Circuit de la Sarthe to secure the front-row lockout.

Earl Bamber: “What a result for Cadillac and also Hertz Team JOTA... a front-row lockout! We were close on pole last year. As a manufacturer to lock out the front row for the biggest race in the world for us is something pretty special. You don't get that every day. Big congrats to Alex and the 12 car. It's going to be nice to sit alongside him Saturday and take the start with Cadillac." Source: Cadillac Racing

Porsche and BMW will share second row

Julien Andlauer in the #5 Porsche 963 qualified seventh in Hyperpole1 to enter his car in the final shootout for the best grid positions.
Mathieu Jaminet took the seat for Hyperpole2 and was initially in the lead after his first attempt on fresh tyres, but was edged out by two Cadillacs in the finale. Jaminet will start from the second row on Saturday with Andlauer and Michael Christensen sharing the #5 Porsche 963.

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #5): "It went really well. After we had a minor incident in the Hyperpole 1 session with Julien at the wheel, our car was extremely fast again in the second session. We made exactly the right modifications to the setup before the start of the two sessions. Thanks to Julien for getting us into the second round. I managed a good lap in the second Hyperpole session. Third place is more than I would have expected before the start of the day.”
Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): "Not everything went according to plan for us in the first stint. My run was over prematurely after losing the right rear wheel. Fortunately, we didn't cause any red flags, because in such a case my times would have been cancelled. The car felt really good on my fastest lap. I made it into the top-10, so I did a good job.” Source: Porsche

BMW’s Dries Vanthoor was fourth-quickest, squeezing his #15 BMW M Hybrid, between the two Penske Porsche.

TDS Racing and Heart Of Racing in pole of LM2 and LMGT3

Aston Martin works driver Mattia Drudi put Heart of Racing Team’s #27 Aston Martin Vantage on pole position in the LMGT3 category and Mathias Beche was first with the #29 TDS Racing Oreca in LMP2.